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William Saliba signs for Arsenal

Hercules

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2014
5,694
156,565
Perception in France is that Arsenal are still a big club. It’ll take a few more years of decline for that perception to change IMO.
Perception is why I said ‘football IQ’. People don’t go just by perception in the modern game anymore. The only exceptions are Barca & RM, as a guide. Agents do their homework, as does the players. Within the game it is well documented on the wrangling and internal discontent going on with those up the road.

Now as a player I wouldn’t want to be around that. Also with a certain big name striker wanting out there. His club will determine, along with his input, on where he ends up.
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,907
78,649
The amount of fucking bed wetting in this thread and the forum in general. Jesus Christ. Get a fucking grip.
It's ridiculous. We've probably made the best signing of the summer and people are getting bent out of shape with potentially missing out on an 18 year-old who would likely be getting limited minutes.

Yes, he may go on to be a class CB but equally he could just be the next Younes Kaboul. If they'd pipped us to the signing of Ndombele then I would be concerned.
 

doctor stefan Freud

the tired tread of sad biology
Sep 2, 2013
15,170
72,169
Perception is why I said ‘football IQ’. People don’t go just by perception in tge modern game anymore. The only exceptions are Barca & RM, as a guide. Agents do their homework, as does the players. Within the game it is well documented on the wrangling and internal discontent going on with those up the road.

Now as a player I wouldn’t want to be around that. Also with a certain big name striker wanting out there. His club will determine, along with his input, on where he ends up.
It’s in line what quite a few posters on here have said: we’re a much more attractive proposition than Arsenal. If Saliba chooses them despite the information available about how poor the state they’re in then he’s not showing smarts
 

JKendall13

Well-Known Member
Jul 2, 2012
1,040
6,953
He might just like Arsenal more. He’s 18.

We need to have the confidence that post-CL final what an 18 year old chooses means nothing regarding the reality of Tottenham versus Arsenal in football.
 

Musathfc28

Member
Jul 4, 2019
63
169
Perception is why I said ‘football IQ’. People don’t go just by perception in tge modern game anymore. The only exceptions are Barca & RM, as a guide. Agents do their homework, as does the players. Within the game it is well documented on the wrangling and internal discontent going on with those up the road.

Now as a player I wouldn’t want to be around that. Also with a certain big name striker wanting out there. His club will determine, along with his input, on where he ends up.
Perception is why I said ‘football IQ’. People don’t go just by perception in the modern game anymore. The only exceptions are Barca & RM, as a guide. Agents do their homework, as does the players. Within the game it is well documented on the wrangling and internal discontent going on with those up the road.

Now as a player I wouldn’t want to be around that. Also with a certain big name striker wanting out there. His club will determine, along with his input, on where he ends up.
Does seem a bit strange for spurs to bid for a player who has no interest in coming? Maybe he prefers them but if the money's right :LOL:
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,907
78,649
What's even worse is people calling others bed wetters if you're not happy clapping 24/7.
Well there are people on here, who as soon as there is a snippet of negative news or information they don't like to hear about, start to throw their toys out of the pram and act like the club are going to combust.

As someone who enjoys posts, whether they are positive or negative, it does become really irritating.
 

Fredo

Realist
Jun 8, 2018
3,934
17,956
At his age and current situation I think he should make a decision that benefits him long-term. Therefore the decision he makes will be very telling of the player
 

philll

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
9,110
31,702
It’s in line what quite a few posters on here have said: we’re a much more attractive proposition than Arsenal. If Saliba chooses them despite the information available about how poor the state they’re in then he’s not showing smarts
If he chooses them with all of the information in front of him then they're welcome to him tbh.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
While I don’t buy into the concept that the French connection is any longer an advantage to Arsenal, and I do think we should hold the bigger appeal, to dismiss them on the level I’m seeing in this thread is madness. They’re still more attractive as a club than we were when we signed, say, Berbatov, or Modric, or Bale, or even more recently the likes of Lloris and Vertonghen. To read this thread you’d think they were West Ham.
 

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
37,886
130,485
Yet another transfer beginning to drag.

Fuck a duck, just fucking move on, all this time wasting with players or agents or club hierarchy ...

Fucking grinds my gears all this shit these days.

Either players and clubs want to do business or they don't.
Mate the bid was apparently made 3 days ago ffs.
 

Montalbano

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2018
3,917
18,686
I don't think there is anything to do with the French connection.

There is no doubt we can basically currently offer everything and more than Arsenal can in terms of nearly every aspect of modern football (CL football, squad cohesion, state of the art stadium, training ground, good wages, top manager, we're heading in a positive direction). If you're a world class player (like Ndombele), we're 100% the more attractive option. But for young players, you have to think about how they view their development. He's an 18 year old who just finished his first year of senior football. If he does go to Arsenal it's likely to be purely because one of the following:

a) Arse offered ASSE and Saliba a better financial package and Saliba and the club couldn't refuse (unlikely)
and/or
b) Saliba sees Arsenal as a greater opportunity for his development as he'll have a clear path to break into the first xi (similar to Sanchez choosing us over Barca)

If it's true that Arsenal has matched our bid, I can understand Saliba's mindset as a young player to decide to join Arsenal as he's probably got full confidence he can break into their shitty backline, where as he'll struggle to break into our defense with potentially 4 other elite full international CBs here this season.

From a pure developmental sense, Arsenal and United are looking like good clubs to go to if you're a young defender wanting to break into the first xi at a top 6 premier league club with their current pickings.
 
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Hotspurious

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2016
518
2,072
While I don’t buy into the concept that the French connection is any longer an advantage to Arsenal, and I do think we should hold the bigger appeal, to dismiss them on the level I’m seeing in this thread is madness. They’re still more attractive as a club than we were when we signed, say, Berbatov, or Modric, or Bale, or even more recently the likes of Lloris and Vertonghen. To read this thread you’d think they were West Ham.
I agree with the sentiment re overreacting...however we were a mid to upper tier PL club (when many of those guys signed) slowly but steadily improving, etc. whereas Arsenal are an upper tier club with a name but heading in the wrong way and with some momentum behind it (considering the discontent, atmosphere, wage structure, owner, etc.). We're fairly close in a number of ways but moving in different directions. Available playing time is attractive when it's not due to a club spiraling downward.
 

Khilari

Plumber. Sort of.
Jun 19, 2008
3,461
5,287
I dislike Le Scum as much as most Spurs fans, but I think if we were trying to be objective, choosing Arsenal over us isn't a massive leap.

Sure, the team is not as good as ours. And yet, they finished a whole 1 point below us, beat us once in the league, drew against us away and lost once in the Carabao Cup. They also reached and lost in a European Final, granted several notches below our efforts. They pay good and comparable wages, have a reputable coach, a large stadium and have a massive fan base.

The main difference is clearly the prospect of CL football next season which is less of a factor for a new player if they are being loaned back. Subjectively you may also point to Pochettino being a major draw, our newer stadium and a strong French contingent at the club.

Saliba may feel he is more likely to play a regular role at Arsenal over us given we have excellent defenders currently at the club who are likely to be above him in the pecking order, especially as Toby is still here. He'd effectively be 5th choice behind Sanchez and Foyth, both of whom are full internationals.

Just not as simple/clear cut as some make out.
 

KILLA_SIN

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2008
7,814
14,455
Perception in France is that Arsenal are still a big club. It’ll take a few more years of decline for that perception to change IMO.
There is a lot of information out there these days, I know who are the big clubs in Italy, Spain, Germany etc are I'm sure it must the same in France? United don't seem to be fairing to well and their fall from grace has been shorter than Arsenals [3 seasons without CL]
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,957
Bit worrying that we fly out to Singapore in 48 hours and we've basically made one proper signing.

We needed some pretty major surgery this summer and we are one injury to Ndombele back to being the same side as last year.

No depth in the AM positions, Eriksen and Toby's future up in the air, no decent RB, Aurier always injured and Trippier pony.

Did you really honestly think it would be any other way though?

I didn’t. That’s why I was so happy to get ndombele in.
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
13,603
58,005
Im not bias but Id say choosing Arsenal is the same as announcing his retirement from football.
 

Danny1

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
5,622
17,172
Im not bias but Id say choosing Arsenal is the same as announcing his retirement from football.

I’m not over reacting but I’d say choosing Arsenal is basically admitting that you would rather sleep with Theresa May than Margot Robbie........
 
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